Steam plowing apparatus



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. INGLETON. STEAM PLOWING APPARATUS.

No. 557,822. Patented'Apr. '7, 1896.

WITNESSES:

IN VEN T 0/? A77'OHNEYS.

AN DRE" IGRANM. HIMQWASNINGTON. I710.

1N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheep 2.

E. INGLETON- STEAM PLOWING APPARATUS. No. 557,822. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

WITNESSES.

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(NoModelJ' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- E. INGLETON.

STEAM PLOWING APPARATUS.

No. 557,822. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

INVENTOP' WITNESSES mla ANDREW EGRMAMJHGTDWQWASNIIGTUHJ C (No Model.) I A 4 SheetsSheet 4.

E. INGLETON. STEAM PLOWING APPARATUS.

No. 557,822 Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

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1m DREW BGRAHAM. Puma-mo yusmuamwo L NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD IXGLETON, OF POTTSTOXVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM PLOW! NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,822, dated April '7, 1896.

Serial No. 560,405. (No model.)

Application filed August 24, 1895.

To all whom it may concern: of the main portion of a plow-carriage, like- Be it known that I, EDWARD INGLETON, a wise illustrating a portion of the track upon subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residwhich the carriage travels. Fig. 8 is a secing at Pottstown, in the county of Montgomtion taken through the carriage and track, 5 cry and State of Pennsylvania, have invented practically on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 and Fig. a new and Improved Steam Plowing Appara- -9 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 7, in tus, of which the following is a full, clear, and which the plow-shank of a carriage has been exact description. elevated to raise the plow attached thereto My invention relates to an improvement in from the ground.

10 steam plowing apparatus; and the object of In carrying out the invention the main the invention is to improve upon the conframe A of the machine consists of two parstruction of the similar apparatus for which allel beams 10, said beams preferably pro- Letters Patent were granted to me May 15, vided at top and bottom with outwardly-ex- 1888, No. 382,983, the prime object of the intending marginal flanges, whereby they are 15 vention being to lessen the cost of manufacsubstantially I-beams, and these side beams ture and simplify the construction of the maare connected in any suitable or approved chine, and to provide a means whereby the manner by similarly-formed beams 11. bent to chain of plows will travel at the side of the semicircular shape, whereby the main frame frame instead of at the top and bottom, and, maybe of any desired length, but is rendered 2o furthermore, to provide an improvement in cylindrical at its ends. A webbing 12 of any the manner of elevating and lowering the approved construction is formed horizontally plows and of effecting a connection between within the main frame at each end, and upon the plowing apparatus and the traction-enthe central portion of the said webbing a 7 5 glue or equivalent motor that may be emplate 13 is ad justably secured, the said plate 25 ployed for moving the apparatus. being capable of being slid in direction of The invention consists in the novel coneither end of the machine, and is secured in struction and combination of the several desired position by means of bolts or their parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, equivalents. and pointed out in the claims. Each sliding plate 13 has a sleeve let inte- 0 Reference is to be had to the accompanying gral therewith or attached thereto, extending drawings, forminga part of this specification, both above and below the main frame. The in which similar figures and letters of refermain frame is supported by means of trucks once indicate corresponding parts in all the 13, two being shown in the drawings, one at views. each side of the center. These trucks, as is 35 Figure 1 is a front elevation of the plowing best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are placed below apparatus, a portion of the drivingchain, well-partitions 15, extending from one side supporting-wheels, and frame being broken beam of the frame to the other, and these paraway or in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of titions may be formed of channeled irons, if the plowing apparatus and that portion of desired. Each truck is preferably made to 40 the truck of the motor with which it is to be consist of a center piece 16, in which an axle connected, the braces being omitted from the 17 is journaled, extending beyond opposite framein order that the important details of the sides thereof, and the centerpiece is strengthinvention maybe more clearly shown. Fig. 3 ened from the axle by means of truss-braces 5 is a section taken about centrally through the 17" or their equivalents, while upon each end 5 machine, practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. of each axle 17 a ground-wheel 19 is mounted Fig. i is a section taken substantially on the to loosely turn, and the ground-wheels may line a 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section through be made as heavy as in practice maybe found the frame, taken, practically, on the line 5 5 necessary. Usually, however, they are of of Fig. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view drum or cylindrical form, and provided with 50 illustrating the manner in which theplowflanges at their inner peripheral edges.

carriages are connected with the endless driv- The axle on the center piece 16 of each truck ing-cha-in. Fig. 7 is an enlarged front view is pivotally connected with the lower end of the vertical shaft 20, whereby either end of the axle may be canted upward or downward to permit the wheels to pass over rough or ridgy ground, and the entire truck may be turned beneath the frame to any desired extent by journalin g the shafts 20 in the wellpartitions 15, the shafts being passed through a cover-plate 21, located at the upper portions of said wells, as shown in Fig. 1, each shaft being provided with a collar having bearing upon the collared plate through which the shaft may pass.

It will be understood that the frame may be provided with any number of transverse longitudinal or diagonal braces that may be found necessary in its construction. In the drawings most of these braces have been omitted in order that more important parts may be clearly shown; but at the central portion of the frame a cross-bar Z) is shown, and at each side of this cross-bar parallel bars 12' of the same nature are placed, one of these latter bars being near each truck, and diagonal brace-bars b are made to brace the frame between its side beams and the cross-bars Z) and Z). This portion of the frame is thus strengthened, since the motor adapted to propel the apparatus is connected with the frame at this point.

, Any desired number of carriages O are held to travel upon the beams 10 and 11 of the main frame, since owing to the construction of these beams they have a track-surface at both top and bottom.

The carriages are of like construction, and are shown in detail in Figs. '7, 8, and 9, in which it will be observed that each carriage consists of a hanger 22, comprising a vertical section a and an upper U or hook section a. The vertical section a of the hanger is located at the outside of the main frame a certain distance therefrom. In the upper or hook section a of the hanger a grooved pulley or trackwheel 23 is journaled, adapted to travel upon the upper face of the beams of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 8, the groove in the pulley receiving the entire tread of the beams, and preferably two or more, ordinarily three similar track-wheels 24, are journaled upon the inner face of the vertical section of the hanger, being so placed that they will engage with the bottom treads of the beams of the frame, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8. In order that a n umber of track-wheels may be used at the bottom of the frame and one at the top, the vertical member of the hanger is of somewhat triangular construction, being widest at or near its base, and owing to this particular grouping of the wheels the carriage will be compelled to travel smoothly upon the track provided for it and will be unable to leave said track unless purposely removed.

A guide-plate 25, usually of rectangular form, is located upon the outer face of the vertical member a of the hanger, being removed from said face by means of the bolts 26 connecting the plate to the hanger, the said bolts being located at the corners, and upon each bolt between the hanger and the guide-' plate a friction roller or pulley 27 is mounted to turn, the pulleys having preferably peripheral grooves, and if in practice it is found desirable the pulleys may be provided with hubs of such length as to regulate the distance between the guide-plate and the hanger. A plow-shank 28 is passed between the guideplate and the hanger, its side edges being received within the grooves of the friction-pulleys 27. Therefore the plow-shank is capable of vertical movement on the hanger.

At the upper end of the plow-shank a horizontal head 28* isformed, and in this head a longitudinal slot 29 is produced, the slot being transversely located with respect to the hanger, but longitudinally placed with respect to the track upon which the hanger or complete carriage travels.

A crank-arm 30 is firmly secured upon the pin or bolt upon which the upper track-wheel turns, and the said crank-arm is provided at its free end with a friction-roller 31, which fits and travels in the slot 29 of the plowshank. The pin to which the crank-arm 30 is attached is provided at its opposite or inner end with a second crank-arm 32 at right angles to the outer crank-arm, and the inner crankarm carries at its free end a friction-roller These connected crank-arms are adapted to act in a manner to automatically raise and lower the plow-shank.

The plow-shank 28 is either attached directly to the rear of the plowshare 3lthat is, at the rear of the moldboard-or the attachment maybe made, as shown in Fig. 1,through the medium of an auxiliary shank 35.

All of the plow-carriages are connected with or attached to an endless driving-chain 30, and this chain is made to pass around sprocket-wheels 37, located at the ends of the frame beneath the same, the shafts 38 upon which the said sprocket-wheels turn being passed upward through the sleeves ll of the adjustable bearings 13, heretofore referred to. Since to tighten the chain or for other purposes it is often desirable to adjust the shafts 38 inward or outward, it is necessary that the carriages should be attached to the endless carrying-chain 36 in such manner that the adjustment of the shafts will not interfere with the movement of the carriages when passing around the frame at its ends. Therefore the adjustment is preferably effected in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 8, in which an eye 39 is formed upon the inner face of the vertical member of the hanger of each carriage loosely receiving a link 40 of predetermined length, and these links are attached in any desirable manner to the links of the driving-chain '36.

The plows travel one behind the other and are to engage with the ground onlyat the front portion of the machine. They are automatically raised as soon as they approach the rear portion of the machine at one end and are antomatically lowered when they approach the front of the machine at the opposite end of the frame. The trip devices accomplishing this 'result and acting in connection with the crank-arms 30 and 32 are denominated, respectively, as D and D. The trip device D, which is adapted to raise the plow-shank, and thus carry the plow out of the ground, is shown enlarged in Figs. 7 and 9, and comprises a plate 41, located adjacent to the upper track at the front of the frame and adjacent to the end of the machine in direction of which the plows travel when making a furrow. This plate 41 is substantially of triangular formation, and is provided upon its outer face adjacent to its inner inclined edge with an inclined track 42. This track extends from the upper track of the main frame upward on the plate 41, but terminates short of the upper end of the plate, and a curved track 43 extends from the top of the plate 41 adjacent to its outer edge, extending but half-way down the said edge, as is shown in Fig. 7, and the convened face of the track 43 is opposite the upper end of the beveled or inclined track 42, while the space between these two tracks is sufficient to permit the downward passage of the friction-wheel 33, attached to the inner crank-arm When the plows are in the ground, the outer crank-arm 30 is in a vertical position and the inner crank-arm 32 in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7 -When, however, a plow-carriage reaches a trip device D, the friction-roller of the inner crank-arm 32 will travel up the inclined track 42, and in ascending will be gradually carried to an upper vertical position, and therefore the outer crank-arm 30 will be carried at that time to a horizontal position and the plowshank 28 will be raised a certain distance. As soon, however, as the carriage progresses far enough to cause the friction-wheel 33 of the inner crank-arm 32 to leave the inclined track 42, said wheel will drop to an engagement with the curved track 43 and will be drawn to a horizontal position, but the reverse of that which it formerly occupied, thereby carrying the outer crank-arm 30 to an upper vertical position, as shown in Fig. 9, and raising the plow-shank the full throw of the cranks,and the upper crank-arm will be therefore maintained in this position until it is purposely restored to its former position. The plowhavingbeen raised from the ground, the carriage will convey the plow in its elevated position along the back track or beam of the main frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

As each plow-carriage rounds the opposite end of the frame, if the plowing is to be continued, the plow-shank of the carriage will be automatically dropped, and this is done through the medium of the trip device D, which. consists of a plate 44, having its outer edge inclined upward and in direction of the opposite end of the machine, while the inner edge of the plate is straight. This plate instead of being fast to the frame, as is the plate of the opposing tripping device, is pivoted therein, as shown in Fig. 5.

hen the plate is in its upright position, (shown in Fig. 1,) as the carriage approaches the plate the inner crank-arm 32, being in the position shown in Fig. 9, will ride up the incline of the plate 44, and by the time it reaches the top of the crank-arm will have been thrown upward to a point past the center, and the weight of the plow will then serve to carry thesaid arm downward to its original position, facing the direction in which the carriage is traveling. If, however, the machine is to be carried from the field, or to be carried to the field, or to be changed in position for any purpose, the plows as they round the frame to the front on their return movement will be permitted to remain in their elevated position, which is accomplished by carrying the trip-plate 44 out of the path of the friction-roller of the inner crank-arm 33 of the carriage, and to that end the said tripplate 44 is pivotally connected with a link 45, (shown in Fig. 5,) which extends transversely across the frame and through the medium of a crank-arm 46 is connected with a shiftingbar 47, the said bar in its turn having crank connection with a lever 48 (shown in Fig. 2 leading to the motor.

The motor E, which may be a traction-engine or may be of other form, is provided with side beams 49, projected from its tender or from the platform upon which the engineer stands, and between these beams what may be termed a draft-frame F is swiveled or universally mounted. This draft-frame preferably consists of four channel-irons 50, arranged to form a rectangularly-shaped skeleton frame, braced at their corners by angleplates 51. The skeleton frame F is provided with recesses 52 in each of its side members, and in each recess the inner end of a sleeve 53 is loosely fitted, the sleeves being secured to the aforesaid beams 49 attached to the engine-frame. Therefore the frame F will rock on these sleeves. A shaft 54 is made to pass from side to side of the frame, being journaled in the sleeves 53, the shaft having a pulley 55 secured at one end and connected by a belt 56 with the driving-pulley on the engine.

A head-block 57 is loosely fitted in the upper end of the rocking frame F, the said headblock having both rotary and lateral movement on the frame. The head-block is provided with a bore at its center of sufficient size to receive a vertical shaft 58; and this shaft within the frame F, since the shaft extends within the frame, is provided with a beveled gear 59, which meshes with a similar gear 00, located on the frame shaft 54. A sprocket-wheel 61 is secured upon the upper end of the shaft 58, and upon the head-block, at each side of its center, a draft-beam 62 is secured, and these draft-beams are carried over to the plowing apparatus and are firmly attached each to the upper end of a vertical beam or bar 63, the latter being pivoted at or IIO near its center upon the cross-bars Z) at the central portion of the frame, and the forward ends of the draftbars are connected by links 6i, provided with turnbuckles, to the forward portion of the frame, while the lower ends of these pivoted beams 63 are connected by links 65 with the bottom portion of the rocking frame F, and other braces (36 aresecured to this portion of the rocking frame, being attached at their opposite ends preferably to the central portion of the trucks B, as shown in Fig. .3.

Thus it will be observed that there is a rigid connection between the motor and the plowing apparatus, yet at the same time either the motor or the apparatus may rise or fall, following the undulations of the ground, without one in the least interfering with the other or straining any of its parts. Owing to the fact that there is suitable weight beyond the rear side of the apparatus frame the front portion of the apparatus must be in a measure weighted to counteract or counterbalance the rear weight, and this maybe accomplished by securing to the front of the said main frame, beneath and at the center of the same, a drum or cylinder 67, which may be filled with any material to any extent to provide the proper weight.

The preferred manner of driving the drive chain 36, connected with the plow-carriages, is from the shaft 58 on the rocking frame F, a belt 68 being carried around the sprocketwheels 69, mounted upon a shaft 7 0, held to turn in suitable bearings secured preferably to one of the draft-beams 62, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This shaft is revolved by the pulley 69 and carries a second pulley 71, and the pulley 71 is connected by a belt 72 with a pulley 7 secured preferably upon the upper end of the shaft 38 at that end of the machine-frame in direction of which the plows travel when plowing, it being understood that the shaft 38 carries one of the wheels 37, receiving the plow-driving chain 36.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a steam plowing apparatus, a frame comprising side bars, and cylindrical or curved bars connecting the said side bars at their ends, all of the bars constituting tracks, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a steam plowing apparatus, a framewheel supported and consisting of parallel side bars and curved end bars connecting the same, both the side and end bars having track-surfaces upon their upper and lower surfaces, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a steam plowing apparatus, a wheelsupported frame comprising side bars and curved bars connecting the same at their ends, of plow-carriages held to travel upon the side and end bars, having track-wheels engaging with both the top and bottom surfaces of the said bars, as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In a steam plowing apparatus, a frame consisting of parallel horizontally-located tracks connected by curved tracks at their ends, plow-carriages held to travel upon all of the tracks, and trip devices at opposite ends of the track at one side of the frame,

operating one to elevate the plow-shanks in the carriages and the other to lower the same, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a steam plowing apparatus, parallel horizontal tracks connected at their ends and constituting a frame, and carriages adapted to make the circuit of the said tracks,whereby the plows move laterally in substantially parallel lines at opposite sides of the frame, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a steam plowing apparatus, tracks located in substantially parallel planes and connected at their ends, an endless driving-chain supported beneath the tracks, and a connection between the carriages and the drivingchain, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a steam plowing apparatus, wheelsupported tracks connected at their ends by curved sections of tracks, chain -wheels mounted at the end portions of the cone-connected tracks, an endless chain carried by the said wheels following the line of the tracks and adapted to make the circuit thereof,plowshanks adjustable in the said carriages, and trip devices located at opposite ends of one of the tracks, operating one to raise and the other to lower the plow-shanks on the carriages, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a steam plowing apparatus, the C011]- bination, with a frame comprising two parallel horizontally-located tracks, and curved sections of tracks connecting the parallel tracks at their ends, of carriages adapted to make the circuit of the tracks, having track-wheels engaging with both the upper and the under faces of the tracks, plow-standards adjustable in the said carriages, trip devices located at the ends of one of the main tracks, and a shifting device connected with each plow-shank, adapted for engagement with the trip devices, one trip device operating to raise and the other to lower the said shanks, as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with a steam plowing apparatus and a motor adapted to draw the same, of a frame having a substantially universal connection with the motor, and draftbeams connecting the said frame with the frame of the plow-uprights, as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination, with a plowing apparatus and a motoradapted to draw the same, of a frame having rocking support upon the motor and provided with an extension having a rotary and lateral movement upon the said frame, and draft-bars connecting the rocking frame and its extension with the said plowing apparatus, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a steam plowing apparatus, the combination with the frame of the apparatus, its driving mechanism, and a motor adapted to draw the apparatus and communicate power to its driving mechanism, of a frame having a rocking support upon the motor and provided with an extension havinga lateral and rotary support, draft-beams connected with the extension of the rocking frame and with rocking supports on the frame of the apparatus, braces connecting the frame of the apparatus with the rocking frame of the motor, a driving-shaft carried by the rocking frame and its extension, and a driving connection between the said driving-shaft and the driving apparatus of the plow, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a plow, the combination, with parallel horizontal tracks and curved sections of track connecting the said main tracks at their ends, an endless drivingchain following the line of the main tracks and their connecting sections, and means, substantially as described, for driving said chain, of carriages mounted upon and adapted to make the circuit of the said tracks, the said carriages being adapted for attachment to plows, and a link connection between the carriages and the endless driving-chain, whereby upon adj ustment of the chain the carriages will not be impeded in rounding the connecting sections of the tracks, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a plow, a frame adapted as a track and having tread-surfaces at top and bottom, of a carriage comprising a hanger having track-wheels engaging with the top and bottom tread-surfaces of the track, and an adj ustable plow-shank carried by the said hanger, as and for the purpose specified.

14. In a plow, the combination,with a track, of a carriage comprising a hanger having track-wheels to travel on said track, and having a socket formed thereon provided with rollers in its walls, a plow-shank having move ment in the said socket and in engagement with the said roller-bearings, and a shifting device, substantially as described, located upon the hanger and connected with the said plow-shank, as and for the purpose specified.

15. In aplow, the combination,withatrack,

and an inclined plane secured upon said track having a curved projection at an angle to the incline and spaced therefrom, of a hanger held to travel on the said track, a plow-shank having movement on the said hanger and provided with an opening at one of its ends, a crank-arm journaled in the hanger, the free end whereof enters the slot of the said plowshank, and a crank-arm at right angles to that engaging with the shank and connected therewith, the latter crank-arm being adapted to travel on the inclined plane and engage with the curved projection adjacent to the said inclined plane, whereby the position of the crank-arms will be substantially reversed and the plow-shank elevated, as and for the purpose specified.

16. In a plow, the combination,with a track, and an inclined plane secured upon said track and having a curved projection at an angle to the incline and spaced therefrom, of a hanger held to travel on the said track, a plow-shank having movement on said hanger and provided with an opening at one of its ends, a crank-arm j ournaled in the hanger, the free end whereof enters the slot of the said plowshank, and a second crank-arm at right angles to that engaging with the shank and connected therewith, the latter crank-arm being adapted to travel on the inclined plane and engage with the curved projection adjacent to the said inclined plane, whereby the positions of the crank-arms will be substantially reversed and the plow-shank elevated, a second trip device located at the return portion of the track, provided with an inclined plane upon one side and a substantially straight surface at the opposite side, whereby the crank-arms by engagement with the second trip device will be restored to their normal position and the plow-shank lowered, substantially as described.

ED\VARD IN GLETON.

lVitnesses:

J. FRED. AOKER, JNo. M. RITTER. 

